Home > Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior > Appendix V Illicit and Licit Drugs of Abuse—Schedules of Controlled Substances

Appendix V Illicit and Licit Drugs of Abuse—Schedules of Controlled Substances

INTRODUCTION

U.S. legislation called the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 has ranked and categorized drugs according to their effects, medical use, and potential for abuse. Ongoing research may reclassify drugs from one category to another, as has happened in the past.

At the federal level. Schedule I is the most strictly controlled—with the highest abuse potential; Schedule V is the least strictly controlled—drugs sold with or without prescription by mail and in shops, with instructions for use, dosages, and warnings about effects and side effects printed on the packaging of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. The schedules shown below in simplified form are followed by extensive schedules (which are discussed fully in Volume 1, in the article entitled Controls: Scheduled Drugs/Drug Schedules, U.S.). A discussion of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 precedes it.

DEA Schedule Abuse Potential Examples of Drugs Covered Some of the Effects Medical Use
I highest heroin, LSD, hashish, marijuana, methaqualone unpredictable effects, severe psychological or physical dependence, or death no accepted use; some are legal for limited re-search use only
II high morphine, PCP, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence accepted use with restrictions
III medium codeine with aspirin or Tylenol® some barbiturates, anabolic steroids may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence accepted use
IV low Darvon®, Talwin®, Equanil®, Valium®, Xanax®, may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence accepted use
V lowest over-the-counter or prescription cough medicines with codeine may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence accepted use
SOURCE: Adapted from Drug Enforcement Administration, Drugs of abuse (1996) and Schedules of Controlled Substances, Revised as of April 1, 1998.

SCHEDULES OF U.S. CONTROLLED DRUGS

Potential for:
Schedule Abuse Dependence Medical Use & Safety
I + + + + + + + + No
II + + + + + + + + Yes
III + + + + + + Yes
IV + + + + Yes
V + + Yes
SCHEDULE I
Opiates Opium Derivatives Hallucinogens Depressants Stimulants
Accty-alpha-methylfentanyl Hydroxypethidine Acetorphine Alpha-ethyltryptamine Mecloqualone Aminorex Cathinone
Acetylmethadol Ketobemidone Acetyldihydrocodeine 4-bromo-2.5-DMA Methaqualone Fenethylline
Allylprodine Levomoramide Benzylmorphine Alpha-desmethyl DOB Methcathinone
Alphameprodine Levophenacylmorphan Codeine methylbromide 2.5-DMA (±) cis-4-methylam-
Alphamethadol 3-methylfentanyl Codeine-N-Oxide DOET inorex
Alpha-methylfentanyl 3-methylthiofentanyl Cyprenorphine PMA N-ethylamphetamine
Alpha-methylthiofentanyl Morpheridine Desomorphine 5-methoxy-3, 4-mdthylene- N, N-dimethyl-am-
Benzethidine MPPP Dihydropmorphine dioxyamphetamine phetamine
Betacetylmethadol Noracymethadol Drotebanol MMDA
Beta-hydroxyfentanyl Norlevorphanol Etorphine (except HCI salt) DOM, STP
Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl Normethadone Heroin MDA
Betameprodine Norpipanone Hydromorphinol MDMA
Betamethadol Para-fluorofentanyl Methyldesorphine MDEA
Betaprodine PEPAP Methyldihydromorphine N-hydroxy MDA
Clonitazene Phenadoxone Morphine methylbromide 3, 4, 5-trimethoxy
Dextromoramide Phenampromide Morphine methylsulfonate amphetamine
Diampromide Phenomorphan Morphine-N-Oxide Bufotenine
Diethylthiambutene Phenoperidine Myrophine DET
Difenoxin Piritramide Nicocodeine DMT
Dimenoxadol Proheptazine Nicomorphine Ibogaine
Dimepheptanol Properidine Normorphine LSD
Dimethylthiambutene Propiram Pholcodine Marihuana
Dioxaphetyl butyrate Racemoramide Thebacon Mescaline
Dipipanone Thiofentanyl N-ethyl-3-peperidyl
Ethylmethylthiambutene Tilidine benzilate
Etonitazene Trimeperidine N-methyl-3-piperidyl-
Etoxeridine benzilate
Furethidine Peyote
Pheneyelidine analogs
PCE, PCPy, TCP,
TCPy
Psilocybin
Psilocyn
Tetrahydrocannabinols
Temporary listing of substances subject to emergency scheduling:
Benzlyfentanyl
Thenylfentanyl
SCHEDULE II
Opium &
Opiates Derivatives Hallucinogens Depressants Stimulants Others
Alfentanil Raw opium Dronabinol Amobarbital Amphetamine Opium poppy
Alphaprodine Opium extracts Nabilone Glutethimide Methamphetamine Poppy straw
Anileridine Opium fluid Pentobarbital Phenmetrazine Coca leaves
Bezitramide Powdered opium Phencyclidine Methylphenidate Immediate precursors to:
Bulk dextropro- Granulated opium Secobarbital Amphetamine
phene Tincture of opium Methamphetamine
Carfentanil Codeine Phencyclidine
Dihydrocodeine Ethylmorphine
Diphenoxylate Etorphine hydrochloride
Fentanyl Hydrodone
Isomethadone Hydromorphone
Levo-alphacetylmethadol Metopon
Levomethorphan Morphine
Levorphanol Oxycodone
Metazocine Oxymorphone
Methadone Thebaine
Methadone-Intermediate
Moramide-Intermediate
Pethidine
Pethidine-Intermediate-A
Pethidine-Intermediate-B
Pethidine-Intermediate-C
Phenazocine
Piminodine
Racemethorphan
Racemorphan
Remifentanil
Sufentanil
SCHEDULE III
Narcotics Depressants Stimulants Others
Limited quantities of: Mixtures of Limited mixtures Nalorphine
Codeine Amobarbital of Schedule II All anabolic steroids
Dihydrocodeinone, Secobarbital amphetamines
Dihydrocodeine, Pentobarbital Benzphetamine
Ethylmorphine, Derivatives of Chlorphentermine
Opium, and barbituric acid Clortermine
Morphine Chlorhexadol Phendimetrazine
in combination Lysergic acid
with nonnarcotics. Lysergic acid amide
Methyprylon
Sulfondiethylmethane
Sulfonethylmethane
Sulfonmethane
Tiletamine
Zolazepam
SCHEDULE IV
Narcotics Depressants Stimulants Others
Limited quantity of difenoxin Alprazolam Loprasolam Cathine Butorphanol
in combination with atropine sulfate Barbital Lorazepam Diethylpropion Fenfluramine
Bromazepam Lormetazepam Fencamfamin Pentazocine
Dextropropoxyphere Camazepam Mebutamate Fenproporex
Chloral betaine Medazepam Mazindol
Chloral hydrate Meprobamate Mefenorex
Chlordiazepoxide Methohexital Pemoline
Clobazam Methylphenobarbital Phentermine
Clorazepate Nimetazepam Pipradrol
Clotiazepam Nitrazepam Sibutramine
Cloxazolam Nordiazepam SPA
Delorazepam Oxazepam
Diazepam Oxazolam
Estazolam Paraldehyde
Ethchlorvynol Petrichloral
Ethinamate Phenobarbital
Ethyl loflazepate Pinazepam
Fludiazepam Prazepam
Flunitrazepam Quazepam
Flurazepam Temazepam
Halazepam Tetrazepam
Haloxazolam Triazolam
Ketazolam Zolpidem
SCHEDULE V
Narcotics Stimulants
Buprenorphine Pyrovalcrone
Limited quantities (less than Schedules III & IV) of:
Codeine,
Dihydrocodeine,
Ethylmorphine,
Diphenoxylate, Opium, and Difenoxin in combination with nonnarcotics